Boat With 7 University Students Taking Selfies Capsizes, 3 Dead

The tragedy happened at Mulokoba Waterfront in Budalangi, Busia county on Saturday evening with officers from the Kenya Coastguard called to help retrieve the bodies.

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Jan 1, 2023 - 14:38
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Boat With 7 University Students Taking Selfies Capsizes, 3 Dead
Boat that capsized in Lake Victoria in May 2019. /TWITTER

An attempt by seven University of Nairobi students to take a group selfie while on a boat ride in Lake Victoria turned tragic on Saturday, December 31 after the boat they were travelling in capsized.

Three of them had died in the incident while four were rescued by good Samaritans who responded to the scene.

The tragedy happened at Mulokoba Waterfront in Budalangi, Busia county on Saturday evening with officers from the Kenya Coastguard called to help retrieve the bodies.

Boats in Lake Victoria. /THE GUARDIAN

Budalang’i police boss Isaiah Mose confirmed the incident stating that two bodies were recovered on the morning of Sunday, January 1.

He told the media that the seven students had overloaded the boat which was meant to carry only three passengers. Tragedy struck about 50 meters from the shore when the boat capsized as the students were taking selfies in turns.

“After completing their mission, they went to the Lake Victoria waters to take photos. In the process, one of them attempted to take a selfie while standing on the boat, making it unstable. That is how the boat capsized.

“The students were taking photos in shifts. Notably, the boat could only accommodate three passengers at a time, but since they wanted to take a group photo they overloaded it. The incident happened about 50 meters offshore,” Mose said.

Mose added that rescue efforts to retrieve the bodies were futile due to bad weather that evening.

“Efforts to recover the bodies were halted due to bad weather and darkness, but a multi-agency team with the help of the Kenya coast guards will resume the search today. Possibilities of survival are minimal,” Mose said on Sunday.

The whereabouts of one other student are yet to be established but the police boss noted that was little chance that he would be found alive.

Mose added that the seven students were on an evangelistic mission in the area and wanted to take photos after attending the crusade a few metres from the shore.

This is the second incident in the whole festive season to involve boats and the second which has claimed lives.

On Sunday, December 25, 2022, Mombasa’s Jomo Kenyatta Beach, commonly known as Pirate’s Beach was hit with tragedy after a family of Asian origin lost two relatives to a boat capsizing incident.

Mombasa County Police Commander Stephen Matu, who confirmed the incident, said the two family members, a man and a woman, were among 15 members who had travelled to the Coast for the Christmas festivities.

They had hired a boat which was to transport them in the Indian Ocean on a short trip, just like any other tourist. However, during the trip, the boat capsized, drowning all the family members on board.

Rescue operation at the Jomo Kenyatta Public Beach, also known as Pirate's Beach. One woman died after a boat they were riding capsized at the beach on December 25, 2022. /DAILY NATION

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